Along the Algarve Coast of Portugal is the small fishing town of Lagos. Hugely popular as a summer destination, this idyllic seaside town is made up of cobbled pedestrian streets and miles of crescent beaches flanked by impressive cliffs. In the heart of Lagos, at the Rising Cock hostel, Mama takes great care of her guest and makes sure to serve hot fresh crêpes every morning.
10 years after our first visit to Lagos we returned, the ocean and friendly Portuguese people beckoning us back. There was Mama happily cooking up crêpes, telling us to pull up a stool and eat as many as we liked. Backpackers came and went, sitting around the small table, having their fill of crêpes before another day of sunbathing on the beach or going on the infamous Booze Cruise.
Lucky for us Mama shared her recipe with us before we left, and although there are many crêpe recipes online, this one is special to us. The addition of a tablespoon of cornstarch gives those crispy lacy edges that makes a crêpe just that much better than a pancake.
There’s no denying crêpes can be fickle things, but I’m quite sure Mama didn’t use a special crêpe pan, in fact she had these going on multiple burners to keep up with the demand. With a little trial and error we managed to whip these up in a cast iron pan and before long were feasting on a stack of crêpes proudly made at home.
Crêpes freeze well in an airtight container with parchment paper between them.
]]>
When many consider a plant-based diet, the fear of missing out on favorite foods can be a non-starter. No more! This amazing vegan BLT raises the bar and proves that whole foods are indeed absolute stunners, satisfying the even most entrenched cravings.
The smokey-salty flavors that drive omnivores crazy for bacon are really simple to create. Tempeh is a true chameleon, and within 10-minutes will take on an incredible flavor.
The only ingredient you’ll need to seek out is a small bottle of liquid smoke. Worry not, it keeps forever and has a host of sneaky uses in veggie BBQ techniques. Here, it takes simple tempeh and turns it into a delicious maple-smoked veggie bacon in minutes.
Fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce, and toasted slices of artisan bread round out this classic and satisfying sandwich that will leave you craving it again and again.
BLT lovers, rejoice!
The vegan BLT you have been waiting for. Also known as a TLT. Add a little avocado, and you’re on your way to a magnificent TTLA.
Leftover tempeh bacon will last 5 days and can be used for more sandwiches or as part of a lunch bowl with grains and roasted veggies.
]]>